Locking and rotating device, twister, for tubular casing elements for vertical excavations

ABSTRACT

Mechanical locking and rotating device also known as twister, consisting of three elements coaxially connected one inside the other, by means of plugs and interpenetrating screws in slots formed on the cylindrical surfaces of the elements, in which a first upper element is used to maneuver the device, a second central element used to rotate the lining tube and a third element deputy to the connection of the end of the lining tube.

Object of the present invention is a mechanical locking and rotating device, also called Twister, for tubular casing elements in particular lining tubes, known as jacket tubes, for vertical excavations.

STATE OF THE ART

It is known that in order to drill holes in incoherent soils and in general where there is a risk of collapse of the walls of the hole, it is necessary to use pipes or tubular lining, forming a casing column, with the main purpose of stabilizing the walls of the excavation, and which is inserted into the ground together with the drilling rods, as the drilling progresses. Once the excavation has reached the depth projected, the temporary lining pipes remain in position, allowing the reinforcement cages to be positioned for foundation piles, reinforcements for ties rods, geothermal probes, etc. Once these operations are completed, the temporary lining pipes are recovered. It is known that to facilitate and make safer the work of those who assemble and disassemble the accessories designed to hold the ends of lining pipe together, with the twister or with adjacent pieces of tube, mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic mechanisms have been developed which replace, in whole or in part, the manual operation by the man, especially when the junction, between the top of the lining pipe, still to be inserted in the ground, and the twister, is made at several meters from the ground. In this case the assembly workers must work in an unsafe manner and the operations are slower.

AIMS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a locking and rotating device (twister), for rotating tubular elements, in particular lining tubes, even very long ones, which securely constrain the lining tube and presents the grip on the lining tube, suitable to allow an optimal transmission of forces, both to carry out the insertion and the extraction of the same, without damaging the conformation of the attachment and of the tube itself with consequent and subsequent difficulties in extracting and damaging it.

Another important aim is to provide a device having a completely mechanical locking and rotating structure and automatic and even manual operation, which is structurally simple.

Not least aim, in accordance with the preceding ones, is to obtain a device with a locking and rotating structure that is reliable and safe in the use, capable of increasing the productivity, being less personnel required, and a faster execution, presenting a contained constructions costs.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS AND METHOD OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The aforementioned task and aims, as well as others which will appear more clearly below, are achieved by a locking and rotating device particularly for lining tubes, in vertical excavations consisting of three elements coaxially connected one inside the other, by means of plugs and interpenetrating screws in slots formed on the cylindrical surfaces of the elements, in which a first upper element is used to maneuver the device, a second central element used to rotate the lining tube and a third element deputy to the connection of the end of the lining tube.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the non-limiting description of an embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1, shows in a perspective view, the device for locking and rotating a tubular element.

FIG. 2, shows in a side view, the device for locking and rotating a tubular element.

FIG. 3, shows another side view of the device for locking and rotating a tubular element.

FIG. 4, shows in a plan view from below, the device for locking and rotating a tubular element.

FIG. 5, shows in a section view, the device for locking and rotating a tubular element.

FIG. 6, shows another sectional view of the device for locking and rotating a tubular element.

FIG. 7, shows in an exploded view, the various components of the locking and rotating device of a tubular element.

FIG. 8, shows in a perspective view, the locking and rotating device connected to a tubular element.

FIG. 9, shows in a section view, the device the locking and rotating device connected to a tubular element.

According to the accompanying drawings, the locking and rotating device, also known as twister, consists of three elements coaxially connected one inside the other, by means of plugs and interpenetrating screws in slots formed on the cylindrical surfaces of the elements themselves, in which a first upper element it is responsible for maneuvering the device, a second central element is essentially devoted to the rotation of the lining tube and a third element is connected to the end of the lining tube, and in which it is indicated with (1) the upper cylindrical element in charge of the operation of the locking and rotating device, the twister, provided on its circumferential surface with circular holes (2) and inferiorly with a collar (3) on which are obtained four seats (4) within which are inserted the pins (5) specially shaped with a polygonal section with rounded corners and a circular head (6). Both the head (6) and the pins (5) are held in place by screws (7). The pins (5) have the function of axial locking, once the end has intercepted one of the rectangular slots (8) of the central cylindrical element (9) placed inside and coaxial with the element (1). The collar (3) is also provided with two other seats (4′), identical to the seats (4), and within each of which, in the same way, a pin (5′) is inserted, until it intercepts a slot (10) of quadrangular opening, of the cylindrical element (9) when placed inside and coaxial with the element (1). These two pins (5′) are used as anti-rotation pins in the case of switching from automatic to manual operation of the twister. Above the cylindrical element (1) a plate (11) is welded with a central hole (12) and two appendages (13) with an eye (14), for the attachment and operation of the twister.

The central cylindrical element (9), which acts as a rotary table, has four rectangular slots (8) and two quadrangular (10) on its circumferential surface, and below a collar (15), with four seats (16) for pins (17) whose ends intercept the circumferential channel (18), located on the lower cylindrical element (19), when it is inside and coaxial with the cylindrical element (9).

The lower cylindrical element (19) is provided on the lateral circumferential surface with a series of holes of various shaped, circular (21) or elliptical (22), and two slots (23, 23′) equal and side by side, each specially shaped with a crenellation or reverse dentition that delimit three windows; underneath a groove or circumferential channel (18) which delimits the surface where the connection with the male joint of the lining tube takes place and there are, for this purpose, four holes in which are keyed and subsequently welded the quick-release couplings (24), for the manual operation; they are consisting of a bush (25), a pin (26), an operating handle (27) and a vertical pin (28) which, moving on the eccentric guide (29), makes the pin (26) advance.

Furthermore, between the said quick couplings (24), there are, intercalated, the bushes (30) into which the pins with truncated cone section (31) are inserted, each with its pin (32) positioned vertically, whose head fits and slides in the pocket (33) present on the collar (15) of the central cylindrical element (9).

The mounting of the device object of the invention it happens like this: the central cylindrical element (9) is keyed coaxially on the lower cylindrical element (19) so that there is a correspondence between the vertical slots (8) and a window of the forks (23, 23′). The truncated-conical section pins (31) which will hook the lining pipe are inserted in the respective bushes (30).

Each of these pins (31) has a pin (32) positioned vertically with respect to them, and this pin is made to fall inside the pockets (33) present on the collar (15) of the element (9) and thus form a cam-tappet system.

The cylindrical elements (9) and (19) are fixed with the pin (17) that engages in the circumferential channel (18), present on the element (9), and is prevented from escaping through the seegers.

In the last step, the upper cylindrical element (1) is mounted through the guide pins (5) which contextually pass through the vertical slots (8) of the central element (9) and in the slots (23, 23′) of the element lower cylindrical (19), thus connecting all the components.

Once all the twister components are mounted, the working is as follows: due to gravity, the guide pins (5) are located in the upper part of the slots (23, 23′), in particular in the central window of each of them. The vertical pins (32) that act as a tappet in the cam, are located in the central part of the pockets (33) present on the cylindrical element (19), keeping the pins (31) completely extracted. The twister is hooked through centering keys (34) to the male joint of the lining pipe (35). The borer machine pushes the twister and the guide pins (5) that slide inside the vertical slots (8) and reach the lower part of the slots (23, 23′). At this point the borer machine transmit a rotates: the guide pins (5) can move both clockwise and anti-clockwise and drag, through the vertical slot (8), also the cylindrical element (9); under these conditions the cylindrical element (19) is fixed because it is hooked through the centering keys (34) to the lining pipe, while the cylindrical element (9) rotates, dragged by the guide pin. By rotating the central cylindrical element (9) it imparts a rotation which causes the vertical pins (32), which act as a tappet for the cams, to move in the peripheral part of the pockets (33) and push the pins (31) to the inside of the holes present in the male coupling of the lining tube.

In the case of switching from automatic to manual, the pins (5′) will be inserted with the function of anti-rotation plugs. Obviously the pins (5′) will be inserted only if, after a failure, it is necessary to switch to manual mode. The seats (4, 4′) are covered with a flange (35) equal to the head (6) of the pins (5, 5′). Still in the case of switching from automatic to manual, the handles (27) will be used to operate the pins (26).

The present invention therefore has the following advantages: it allows the assembly of lining tubes, even rather long, under the rotating element in an automatic way, without human intervention, except that of the operator at the controls. It allows to operate also manually in case of breakdowns, malfunctions or other contingencies; it increases safety and productivity by eliminating the dangers and the loss of time of the manual coupling phases, and at the same time presents a simple structure and a lower cost compared to the previous technique. It also offers a continuous and uniform contact surface that is perfectly adherent to the wall of the lining tube with an optimal grip on the pipe, allowing an optimal transmission of forces, both when inserting and extracting it. 

1. Locking and rotating device also known as twister, for tubular casing elements, in particular lining pipes, consisting of a completely mechanical locking and rotating structure with automatic and I or manual operation and characterized in that it is made in three cylindrical components with a circular section, coaxial in one another, and in which: a) the upper cylindrical element (1) is provided on its circumferential surface with circular holes (2) and below with a collar (3) on which four seats covered by a flange (4) are formed within which are go to insert themself the pins (5) each conformed with a polygonal section with rounded corners and a circular head (6), held in place by screws (7); the collar (3) is provided with two other seats (4′), and within each of which, in the same way, is goes to insert itself a pin (5′), until to intercept the slot (10), with a quadrangular opening, of the cylindrical element (9) when it is placed inside and coaxial with the element (1); b) the central cylindrical element (9), has four rectangular slots (8) and two quadrangular slots (10) on its circumferential surface, and inferiorly a collar (15), with four seats (16) for pins (17); the endeds of pins (17) intercept and fit into the circumferential channel (18), located on the lower cylindrical element (19), when it is inside and coaxial with the cylindrical element (9); c) The lower cylindrical element (19) is provided on the lateral circumferential surface with a series of holes of various shaped, circular (21) and elliptical (22), and two slots (23, 23′) equal and side by side, each shaped with a crenellation, or a reverse dentition, to form an area with the function of delimit and guide for the movement of the pins (5); underneath a groove or circumferential channel (18) which delimits the surface where the connection with the male joint of the lining tube takes place (35) and there are four holes in which the quick-release couplings (24) are keyed and subsequently welded, for the manual operation, they consisting of a bush (25), pin (26), operating handle (27) and vertical pin (28) able to move on the eccentric guide (29); interspersed, between said quick couplings (24), are the bushes (30) within which the truncated-conical section pins (31) are inserted, each with its pin (32), vertically positioned, whose head is adapt to be inserted and to slide into the pocket (33) present on the collar (15) of the central cylindrical element (9).
 2. Locking and rotating device also known as twister, for tubular casing elements, in particular lining tubes, as in claim 1) characterized in that the central cylindrical element (9) is keyed coaxially on the lower cylindrical element (19) to realize a correspondence between the vertical slots (8) and a slot of the windows (23, 23′); each of the truncated-conical section pins (31) is inserted in the respective bushes (30) and has a pin (32) positioned vertically with respect to it, which falls inside the pockets (33) present on the collar (15) of the element (9) and form a cam-tappet system; the cylindrical elements (9) and (19) are fixed with the pin (17) that engages in the circumferential channel (18), present on the element (9), and prevents it from coming out with the help of seegers; the upper cylindrical element (1) is connected through the guide pins (5) which simultaneously pass through the vertical slots (8) of the central element (9) and in the slots (23, 23′) of the lower cylindrical element (19).
 3. Locking and rotating device also known as twister, for tubular casing elements, in particular lining tube, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the locking and the rotation of the coating lining tube (35) realizes in this way: due to the action of gravity the guide pins (5) are located in the upper part of the slots (23, 23′); in particular, in the central window of each of them, the vertical pins (32) that they act as tappet in the cam, are located in the central part of the pockets (33) present on the cylindrical element (19), keeping the pins (31) completely extracted; due to the downward thrust the guide pins (5) slide inside the vertical slots (8) and reach the lower part of the slots (23, 23′); here the guide pins (5) can move both clockwise and anticlockwise and drag also the cylindrical element (9) through the vertical slot (8); under these conditions the cylindrical element (19) is fixed because it is hooked through the centering keys to the lining tube, while the cylindrical element (9) rotates dragged by the guide pin; by rotating the central cylindrical element (9) it imparts a rotation which causes the vertical pins (32), which act as a tappet for the cams, to move in the peripheral part of the pockets (33) and push the pins (31) to the inside of the holes present on the male coupling of the jacket tube. 